Wasington (CNN) – Top Obama advisor David Plouffe Sunday laughed off suggestions Donald Trump will ever be a serious presidential candidate, but the business mogul says he is actually the Obama campaign's "worst nightmare."

"I am leading a lot of polls and doing very well," Trump told Fox News Monday as part of his weekly segment for the network. "I can tell you I am their worst nightmare."FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - Who won last week's showdown over the federal budget and the government shutdown-that-wasn't?

It looks like the public gives the Democrats more credit for the deal than the Republicans, but it's nothing like the slam-dunk that Bill Clinton scored during the 1995 government shutdown, and it certainly has not been reflected in President Barack Obama's overall approval rating, according to a new national poll.FULL POST

Stupak has been named a Partner at Venable LLP in the law and lobbying firm's Legislative and Government Affairs Group. Pursuant to congressional ethics rules, Stupak is prevented from directly lobbying his former colleagues for one year.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - A top aide to Mitt Romney is pushing back against Democrats attempts to highlight Tuesday's fifth anniversary of the signing by the former Massachusetts governor of a universal health care law in the Bay state.

The measure, which has been criticized by some fellow Republicans, could hurt Romney with GOP primary and caucus voters if he decides, as expected, to make another run for the White House.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - The Obama administration is considering General David Petraeus, the top US commander in Afghanistan, as the next possible CIA director, an Administration official confirms to CNN. The official would not be identified because no announcements have been made about upcoming personnel decisions.

The move would be just one of a complex shuffle set to take place through the rest of the year as key members of the president's national security team are set to depart, including Secretary of Defense Robert Gates who has long wanted to retired, and The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, whose term is set to end this year.FULL POST